A disturbing story surfaced over the weekend about a male student from a local university who allegedly beat up his now ex-girlfriend. The woman, named Kim based on her social media handle, shared her story in a series of tweets which were shared over and over by her friends, family, and now people who want justice for her and the other victims’ behalf.
Kim shared how her relationship with this guy started like any other—they’d go out on dates, they’d wait for each other after class, and so on. But eventually she saw red flags: He always getting angry about petty things. She would constantly have to explain herself.
This is how it began: Kim was repeatedly abused by her then-boyfriend, starting with minor bruises that she could easily hide until the abuses escalated, resulting in a severe hematoma on her head and all over her body. She was so bruised she barely moved. She also had chest trauma that made it hard for her to breathe normally. This was the last and final straw.
After they broke up, the guy started messaging her to maintain her silence, in an attempt to keep her family and school authorities ignorant of his abuses. He then claimed that it would cause a great deal of trouble when the issue was just a conversation that needed to be fixed between two people in a relationship. That’s where he is wrong.
Another girl named Gil came forward, sharing photos of her bruises from when she used to date the same guy. Besides beating her up, he would humiliate her in public.
This guy’s modus operandi fit a specific pattern: When they would break up with him, he would beg for their forgiveness and would threaten to take his own life. It’s a terrible cycle.
In another social media post by a student, it says that the guy was only allegedly punished with community service by his university. And since that did not feel like equitable justice for the abuses he committed, the women had to take their story public.
Ladies, your bravery for sharing your story of abuse can inspire others to speak up. Thank you for that! And by no means did you deserve those physical and probably verbal abuse you received.
If you are going through abuse or know a friend or a family member who is, you may get in touch via the Violence Against Women hotline:
1. Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), (02) 931-8101 to 07.
2. Philippine National Police (PNP), (02) 723-0401 to 20.
3. DSWD-NCR Ugnayan Pag-Asa Crisis Prevention Center, (02) 734-8639, (02) 734-8654, (02) 734-8626 TO 27.
4. PNP-Women and Children Protection Center, (02) 410-3213.
5. NBI-Violence Against Women and Children Desk (VAWCD), (02) 523-8231 to 38, (02) 525-6028.
Photo courtesy of Unsplash
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